Bethel Sunday School Online - 10 MAY 2020
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:14 – 22

THE PROBLEM OF IDOLATRY

1. It destroyed Israel as a nation

2. It was a problem that affected the Churches too

3. The problem of eating food offered to idols appeared to be of a concern (Cf. 1 Corinthians 8)

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF IDOLATRY

1. With love for the Church brethren (1 Corinthians 10:14a)

“My beloved”

2. With clarity and firmness (1 Corinthians 10:14b)

“Flee from idolatry”

3. With an appeal to the wise (1 Corinthians 10:15)

a. Those who are “wise men”

b. They will have the wisdom to discern what Paul is saying to them!

HAVING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM OF EATING FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS

1. Our communion with the Lord is affected (1 Corinthians 10:16 – 17)

a. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper

i. The Cup of blessing

ii. The Bread

b. The significance of partaking of Holy Communion

i. The significance of being in communion or fellowship with the Lord!

ii. There is a special sense of oneness in being in fellowship with Christ

2. The spiritual feasts of ancient Israel for illustrative purposes (1 Corinthians 10:18)

a. These were to be observed and noted

b. The people would bring their sacrifices to the altar of the Lord as part of worship

c. The people partook of the sacrifices that were offered to the Lord

i. This was symbolic of their communion with God!

ii. They were in fellowship with each other as God’s people!

d. This is being compared to the food offered to idols

i. This is part of their worship

ii. This is part of their fellowship with their gods

3. The sacrifices offered to idols

a. The Gentiles offered up sacrifices to their gods

b. They invite people to partake of the food that have been offered

c. The problem of believers partaking of this food without understanding

4. The idols (1 Corinthians 10:19)

a. They are nothing

b. They are not God

c. They are not to be feared

5. The problem is in the implication of partaking of the food offered to idols

a. There is spiritual significance!

b. This was taught by Moses (Deuteronomy 32:16 – 18)

c. There are evil spirits involved

d. The Gentiles sacrifice to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20)

6. The danger of provoking the Lord to anger (1 Corinthians 10:21 – 22)

a. Partaking of the sacrifices the Gentiles offer to idols

b. The implications here is having fellowship with demons!

c. There is grave danger of provoking God to anger as Israel did in the past!

CHALLENGES

1. To be wise in our practice of faith!

2. To know the Scriptures that we would not sin against the Lord and make Him angry!

3. To treasure and guard our communion with the Lord!